True confession, I’ve been neglecting the kitchen. Partly because Mr. Science (yes, that’s really how I refer to my partner Ken) has been in Chicago for a month. Mostly because I’ve been… let’s call it “efficiently unmotivated.” But today, it’s time to fix it! If screens are winning in your home because they’re easy and immersive, then the kitchen is your new secret weapon. It has rhythm. It has purpose. It smells good. And it turns “I’m bored” into “What can I do?” No big lesson. Just this: While you’re prepping a meal or snack, say, “Come hang out with me.” That’s it. Invite the kids into the rhythm. Then give them a role: 🥔 Littles (3–5): A bowl of water and a whisk. Let them “scrub” potatoes. Stir. Splash. It’s sensory play that feels like real work. 🥗 Middles (6–9): Appoint them Official Taster or Salad Architect. Let them choose toppings. Arrange colors. Adjust seasoning. Ownership changes everything. 🎙️ Older kids (10+): Kitchen DJ. They control the playlist and the vibe while you both prep. (You might learn something about their music… brace yourself.) Side note, my my son was a teen he greatly expanded my music horizons so be open. The magic isn’t in the recipe. It’s in the side-by-side. This is Day 3 of a 7-day series inside Connected Through Play where we are looking at easy ways to ease the screen struggle through communication, cooking, and play. If your house has been hearing “there’s nothing to do,” mantra lately, this might be your bridge. What role would your child choose in your kitchen?

Doing less to get better engagement in your community? We can help! Some might call the "less is more" quote a cliché, but when you think about it in terms of Skool communities, it's tempting to strive for more engagement in the communities we are building by engaging more. The question is whether more engagement is something your members actually benefit from or not. By doing more more more, you are hoping to get more engagement, but what if less is more... In your community, what do you think you could do less of, to get more results?

Day 1 began with creativity and communication, answering the question, what would you do if the power went out? Today? It’s all about play. Did you know? When kids cling to screens, it’s often not about the device it’s about immersion. That deep, absorbed feeling of being “in it.” So here’s an experiment: ⏲️ Set a timer for 10 minutes. Say to your child: “For the next 10 minutes, I’m all yours. What should we do?” That’s it. The only rule for you? Say yes. (Within safety and reason, of course.) 🧱If they want you building a castle on the floor, you’re on the floor. 💡If they want to explain game lore or show you something they love, you listen without fixing or correcting. Ten focused minutes. No multitasking. No phone in your hand. It’s amazing how often this small window softens the screen struggle without a single argument. This is Day 2 of a 7-day series inside Connected Through Play simple shifts using communication, cooking, and play to make screens less of a battle. If this feels like something your family needs, come join us. And tell me what did they choose for their 10 minutes?

🛜 No WiFi. 🧑‍💻 No tablets. 📺 No TV. 💡 No lights. 🧀 No fridge humming in the background. We lived through this just a few weeks ago after an ice storm. Let’s just say we got creative! Here’s the question to ask your kids: “If we had a total power outage for 24 hours, what’s the very first thing you’d do to keep from being bored?” Two rules for you, the grown-up: 1. Just listen. No fixing. No improving their idea. 2. You answer too. What would you miss when you’re not busy scrolling? Something shifts when we stop and listen. The ideas get creative. The tone shifts. The seed gets planted. Life outside the screen? It’s actually interesting. This is Day 1 of a 7-day series I’m running inside Connected Through Play, all about stopping the screen struggle through communication, cooking, and play. No shame. No dramatic “throw the tablets away.” Just small, doable shifts that build connection. If you’re raising (or loving) kids ages 3–11 and you want practical ways to make screens less of a battle and connection more of a habit, we’re starting with conversations like this one. Come join us.

It’s human nature that we need to know why we are doing something. Unfortunately, a lot of course creators are cutting out this critical information in an attempt to streamline or “cut out the fluff.” In this important episode of The Art of Online Course Creation, I go into detail about exactly what you need to include in your lessons and why. 😉 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2390518/episodes/17829944-46-why-knowing-why-leads-to-profitable-impactful-courses